The Dillon tribune., 1887-02-25
Ghe 1illon Gritm'e.
TIE RED ACORN.
ny JOHN LI'ELlsOY,
Author Of "Anicrsonvtttc," nc
snd published BY arrangement with thcm'J


All sped away as directed. Former
had been loading his gun while speaking
H.. now ram,ned the bullet home, ana
withdrawing the rammer walked over !"
the cliff beside which the teanster was
covering.
10. Mister For:ncr, don't kill me please
doniv' whincd the ;ucklcss man, getting
awk wardly upon his kness and raising his
hands implorinyiy. Il swar to God ~
never raise hand agin Union man "g'"
ef yc'll only spar my life
"Kill yc. Pete iloskins! said Former
witt, unfathonab'e contempt. "What CON
se,e &c hcy ter think yer wuth the powder
an lead. han't no bullets ter waste ON
casr'on."
lie struck the abject fellow "A couple OF
singing blows on the face with the ra'nrod'
replaced it in the thimbes, and spra"s up
the rocks just as the head OF the cavalry
anneorc,, around the bend Of the road a *"
rods away.
Ovcr,aking Harry shortly. he heard
about the sam. time tn. Confrde' ates on
the road below strike into trot.
"Thcv know hit all now he said, ian
hcv started in chase. Let's jog on lively,
an get ter whar wc kin head 'cm Off
Might hal fallen in the meantime, bat
the fail moon had risen immediately. max
Ing it almost as light as day.
After half an hours fast walking, the
two unonists had cut across the long horse.
shoe around which the Confederates we've
travelling, and had come down much ahead
Of them on the other side Of the mountain,
and Just where the road led up the steep as.
cent OF another noun ain.
There was terrible loneliness about the
spot. Over it hung the "thouyht and dead.
" feel Of solitude" The only break for
miles in the princval forest was that made
BY the narrow road. House or cabin there
was none in all the gloomy rrachts Of rocks
and gnar.ed trees. I, was too in',ospitabl-
region to tempt the widest squat.er.
The 4 ,nt oi moonlight made the desola
ton more oppressive than ever by making
palpable and suggestive the inky abyss-s
under the trees and in the bushes.
Fortner looked up the road and listened
intently.
a waterfall mumbled somcw here in the
neighbnrhood The pines and hemlocks
near the summit sighed drearily. a gray
fox, which had probably just suppcd off a
pheasant, sat on a log and ba,ked out his
glu,tunous satisfaction. A wildcat, as We,
suppcrless, screamed its envy from cliff
half a mile away.
II can't heah anything Of Aunt Dcbby
an the Others" sa!d Fortner, a, length. "so
Ireckon they're clean over the mounting
an 'bou. safe bv this time. Them beasts
are purity good travellers, imagine, ar
they hain't let no grass grow under thc'r
huf.."
"Bu. the Contederates are coming, hand
over hand said Harry, who had been
watching to the ef:. and listening. II hear
them now quite plainly. Yes, there the,
are" he continued, as two or three yalioped
around Il turn in the road, followed at n lii
Tie interval bv others.
TIE metallic clang Of the rapid hoof
beats on the rocks rang through the som
Der aiscs Of the forest. Noisy fox and AM,
iphonial wildcat stopped to listen TO this in
vasion of sound.
"Quick let, get in cover said Fo.tner
"Yc make fur thet rock up thar" sale
For,ncr to Harry. pointing TO spot sever
al hundred yards above them" and sta,
thar tell come. Keep close in shadler.'
"I.'>ee,ns to me ,ha, I ought to sta,
with vou,' said Harry.
Mo; 90. fe can't do no good heah
Ones bet rr nor two. I'll be up thar soon
Go. quick!
There VAS no time .or debate, and Harr,
did as hidden.
Fortner stepped into the insy shadow @
great rock, again>, which he leaned. Th
broad facc OF the rock, gray from its cover
ing OF minute, as.,.colored lichens, was tc
ward the pursuerS, and shune white as ma,
bic in the hnod q: moonlight. The dark mes
seemed banked up around him, bu, with,
his arms length it was as !igh, as day. IT,
long rifle barrel reached from the darkne.
where it lay into the light. past the corns
Of the rock. The bright rays made tl
little "hrad" near the muzzlc CLEAN like
diamond, and lighted up the >li, as fine
hair in the hind>isht. Three hule click
as of,wigs breaking beneath rabbits to-
told tha, the trigger had been set and Il
hammer raised.
The horsemcn, much scattered hy II
pursuit. clattered onward. IN ones and tw